Ahead of tomorrow’s match at London Road versus Peterborough United in League One, which will be refereed by Sunny Sukhvir Gill, I have done a Q&A with one of their supporters. Thank you to Stuart for answering our questions!
QUIZ: How much can you remember last season’s match between Peterborough United and Lincoln City at London Road? Have a go at the quiz at the bottom of the page!
You can discuss what has been said in this article here, or in the comments section at the bottom, as well as get involved with the pre-match discussion on the forum!
How long have you supported Peterborough United?
Since the 1980s.
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2023/24 season?
At the start of the season, the hope was that we’d still have a club by the end of it. Our dabble with the Canadian venture capitalists has been a disaster and we’ve gone from a reasonably well-run club with quite a bit of debt to single owner, but with our own ground, to a club owing substantial amounts of money to a fund and with a charge on the ground – which we no longer own. We can still borrow, but it’s at significant interest rates which would make Wonga blush. Of course, Darragh MacAnthony (who isn’t blameless, but has as much to lose as the fans and generally retains sympathy) has been waving his arms around like that Iraqi Minister – ‘nothing to see here’.
Still, League One is utterly, utterly terrible this year, so there’s still the hope that whilst the club is much diminished, the team is still OK and the fact that we have been playing mostly badly, but are still in the play-off places offers hope on the pitch.
What do you think of your manager?
Undeniably a club legend and our most successful manager of all time. Still, his constant returns are a bit of a joke and it seems to be an ever-decreasing circle of time until he leaves again.
That being said, the football is mostly good and the team is usually likeable with him in charge.
Was Ferguson right to call out the players in public after the Mansfield loss?
Probably. I’m not a fan of it generally, but if ever there was a case, this was it. It’s a young team and he often mixes the carrot and stick with his players. It’s unlikely to think he didn’t know what he was doing.
Style of play and tactics – direct/passing/hybrid?
Pretty good. At its best it’s electric and at its worst ponderous, but always trying to be exciting and stylish.
Clark-Harris not getting a transfer has disrupted this. He’s excellent at what he does, but he doesn’t fit in with a dynamic, pressing style and he’s stunting us a little – at the same time as being one of our most productive players.
One(s) to watch now and in the future?
It’s still Ronnie Edwards. It’s got to the point where playing him at L1 level is like cheating. We’ve had some decent, ‘comfortable of the ball’ centre-backs in my time who broke through at Posh and have gone on to have careers in the Premier League and internationally; Gary Breen, Sean St Ledger and Ryan Bennett. Edwards is better than them all. Quite why he’s still with us is a mystery and whatever it is he’s missing for the top clubs, I can’t spot it in his game.
As for the future, let’s hope we get that far.
Random fact about your Club?
We have a 100% winning record against Liverpool and Arsenal.
Which were your favourite and least favourite matches involving Peterborough United?
This isn’t quite the actual favourite and least favourite, but I’m guessing you really want to hear about the play-offs last season.
The home game against Sheffield Wednesday was incredible. It was up in the top five atmospheres I’ve ever experienced and it was a decent performance with an unbelievable result. It should be the kind of night that lived in the memory forever. However, even the next day or so everybody was ruing Poku’s late miss and worrying about the return game.
There was an inevitability about the result at Hillsborough. If we had got through 20 minutes, we would have cruised home, but once the early goal went in it was only a matter of time. It was just a horrible thing to sit through (thankfully at home for me, thanks to the pitiful allocation).
I’d never turn down a promotion, but we weren’t good enough to go up and I’m pleased we didn’t. I think it’s safe to say Wednesday are having a successful season compared to what we’d have done.
Which sides do you think will finish in the top six and which do you think will finish in the bottom four?
I really don’t know. I’ve mentioned it’s the worst standard I can remember in this league. Almost any one of 20 teams could put a run together and finish near the top and vice versa.
I think it’s safe to say Cheltenham will go down, though.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
I really like Lincoln. I’ve filled this in a few times before and said that I live near the city and my wife is an Imps fan. We watch Lincoln as much as Posh and I’m fond of the club – it’s a proper club with (mostly) good fans. With Cambridge and Northampton in the division this year, this really is any old game for most fans (except those that live in Lincolnshire – remember, a third of your county is Posh!).
What is your prediction for this match?
All results are possible. We’ve generally had the wood over Lincoln for the last 30 years and I can’t remember the last time you won at London Road (I’m sure that’s my memory, rather than fact) – so it’s possible you’re overdue.
The game will be won and lost in midfield and that’s where you have Ethan Hamilton – so I’ll say 3-1 to Posh.
"League One is utterly, utterly terrible this year." (Q&A):https://t.co/tmjs8BHiWc#PUFC #Peterborough #WeAreImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) October 6, 2023
